The White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover are one of Englands most famous natural landmarks. The chalk cliffs reach up to 350 feet (100m) high and look out across the Dover Strait towards France and mainland Europe.

The area has been designated as a site of special scientific interest due to its geological and botanical importance. Many rare animals and plants can be found near to the cliffs.

The cliffs were formed by microscopic plankton which after dying built up on the sea bed over millions of years. The remains broke down to form white lime mud which continued to build up by half a millimeter every year.

Today the cliffs are eroding at a rate of about 1cm per year, although occasionally large chunks can fall away from the cliff.

For thousands of years the White Cliffs of Dover have been the main frontier of defence for the country. Countless fortifications have been built on top of the cliffs of which Dover Castle is the most dominant today.

Behind the cliffs are miles of hidden tunnels that were first created in the middle ages but played an important part in the Napoleonic wars and later in World War II.